世論 What Japan Thinks

Although mixi still rules the Japan Social Networking Service market in Japan, this 12th regular SNS survey from goo Research and reported on by japan.internet.com showed some changes lower down in the rankings.

Demographics

Between the 7th and 9th of April 2008 1,091 members of the goo Research monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 52.9% of the sample were male, 16.5% in their teens, 18.2% in their twenties, 21.4% in their thirties, 16.3% in their forties, 15.7% in their fifties, and 11.8% aged sixty or older.

As lots of people seem to be looking for invites to mixi, both xorsyst and Tofugu are offering them. Note that you seem to need a Japanese mobile phone in order to sign up.

My SNS participation is limited to my rather static personal and web site Facebook pages. I’ll respond to any friend requests, but don’t expect anything more out of me!

Research results

Q1: Are you currently using a Social Networking Service (SNS)? (Sample size=1,091)

Currently using (to SQ)	31.5%
Used to use	10.5%
Never used	43.1%
Don’t know what SNS is	14.8%

Q1SQ: Which SNSes are you currently using? (Sample size=344, multiple answer)

	Votes	Percentage
mixi	296	86.0%
GREE	36	10.5%
Yahoo! Days	26	7.6%
MySpace	19	5.5%
Rakuten Ichiba Links	9	2.6%
freeml	6	1.8%
livedoor Furupa	4	1.2%
CURURU	4	1.2%
So-net SNS	3	0.9%
Facebook	1	0.3%
CyWorld	0	0.0%
JOCOSO	0	0.0%
SayClub	0	0.0%
Other	57	17.1%

GREE is up three percentage points and MySpace two since the last survey.

Q2: Do you have the impression that SNS is in vogue these days? (Sample size=1,091)

Rather in vogue	22.0%
A little in vogue	45.2%
Not really in vogue	29.5%
Not at all in vogue	3.3%